Victory in the War of 1812 by the Democratic-Republican President against the British, (No American land lost, Victory on Lake Champlain, and in New Orleans by General Andrew Jackson – but at a price, including the burning of Washington)

Hartford Convention of December 1814, with New England Federalists threatening secession, ultimately dooms the Federalist Party with the mark of “Hartford Conventionism.”

Republicans become more like the Federalists as the party of nationalism and centralization – advocating a national bank, a protective tariff, and internal improvements — blurring the party’s identity.

John Randolph: Congress’s record under Madison’s leadership is nothing but “old Federalism, vamped up into something bearing the superficial appearance of Republicanism.”

Republicans succeed in New England by attacking the state churches in a push for religious liberty

Leading Candidates (Nomination/Primaries):

Democratic-Republican Party nomination

Democratic-Republican candidates

James Monroe, U.S. Secretary of State (Virginia)

William H. Crawford, U.S. Secretary of War (Virginia)

Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of New York

Federalist Party nomination

Federalist candidates

Rufus King, U.S. Senator from New York

Main Controversies (Nomination/Primaries):

Fights over the timing and value of the caucus.

Country tiring of Virginia presidents — John Adams complains that his son John Quincy may have to wait in Europe for his turn to lead “’till all Virginians shall be extinct.”

Turning Points (Nomination/Primaries):

At the start of 1816, Democratic-Republican Presidential nomination contest primarily between William H. Crawford and James Monroe, with Crawford maintaining a majority of support and Monroe a minority.

Conventions (Dates & Locations):

February 8, 1816: Democratic-Republican Party Caucus, First Session (unofficial), party division on a candidate.

March 12, 1816: Democratic-Republican Party Caucus, Second Session suspected to have been organized by Monroe opponents. Chairman: U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Morrow OH. Only Fifty-seven Congressional members present was postponed to March 16, 1816.

March 16, 1816: Democratic Republican Caucus Third Session in U.S. House chamber, with 118 members attending. Chairman: U.S. Sen. Samuel Smith, Maryland; Secretary, U.S. Rep. Richard M. Johnson Kentucky.

Convention/Caucus Turning Points:

Democratic-Republican Caucus Third Session in U.S. House chamber, with 118 members attending. Members fight over the timing and value of the caucus; Henry Clay suggests the resolution not to nominate a candidate at the caucus, members vote this down. They nominate James Monroe for President and Daniel D. Tompkins for Vice President. There is opposition from the anti-Monroe faction.

Number of Ballots to Choose Nominees:

Democratic-Republican

Presidential Ballot

James Monroe 65

William H. Crawford 54

Vice Presidential Ballot

Daniel D. Tompkins 85

Simon Snyder 30

Federalist

The Federalist caucus did not make a formal nomination.

Federalists supported New York Senator Rufus King; John E. Howard of Maryland was the candidate for vice president.

General Election Controversies/Issues: Nominating caucus

Campaign Innovations (General Election):

Avoid “self-serving electioneering”; Party workers were in charge of the campaigning worked with partisan presses; (work on the campaign through letter writing from behind the scenes).

Major Personalities (General Election): William Crawford;

Turning Points (General Election):

Pennsylvania Federalists tried to form an anti-Monroe coalition with anti-Caucus Republicans, and nominate William Crawford and a Federalist vice Presidential nominee. However, anti-Caucus Republicans chose not to oppose Monroe.

Republicans succeed in New England by attacking the state churches in a push for religious liberty.

Federalists wanted Rufus King for a nominee, considered him a presumptive nominee. King was wrongfully accused by Secretary of the Treasury of owing money to the government, the money had been given to King when he was Minister to England in 1796-1803 to get Lafayette released from a French prison. The government had marked that money as a loan. Party newspapers wrote and published editorials, including King’s own letter to Monroe, which cleared.

“Existence of parties is not necessary to free government” James Monroe

Defining Quotation (Losing Candidate):

“Federalists of our age must be content with the past.” Rufus King

Monroe “had the zealous support of nobody, and he was exempt from the hostility of everybody.” Rufus King

Campaign Quotations

“Our two great parties have crossed over the valley and taken possession of each other’s mountain.” John Adams

Further Reading:

Cunningham, Noble E. The Presidency of James Monroe. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1995.

Election Issues:

Representative John W. Taylor of New York wanted to disallow Indiana’s votes, claiming Indiana was a territory not a state during the actual voting. Indiana’s constitutional convention passed the state constitution on June 29, 1816. Congress admitted Indiana as the 19th state of the Union on December 11, 1816, a week after the Electoral College voted on December 4, 1816. The House nevertheless included Indiana’s votes.

Lasting Legacy of Campaign:

Election of 1816 ushered in the “era of good feelings,” many believe it marked the end of party politics.

Federalist Party collapses, the Virginia dynasty begins its finale.

CHRONOLOGY

1812-1813: Resurgence of the Federalist Party: Young Federalists organized local chapters and recruited members.

January 18-23, 1813: Americans throughout the northwest are outraged by Winchester’s battle and surrender at Frenchtown, and the Wyandotte murder of sixty Kentucky prisoners of war. The northwest ceases to play a role in war strategy.

October 5, 1813: “The United States under General Harrison emerges victorious at the Battle of the Thames — the most important American victory to date — as it ends British and Indian control in Northwest and Upper Canada. Tecumseh dies in the battle.”

December 9, 1813: “Madison calls for a total embargo on exports and a ban on all imports of British origin, believing that Britain depends on trade with the United States. Congress passes the embargo just days later.”

February 1814: “Madison appoints Henry Clay, Albert Gallatin, James Bayard, Jonathan Russell, and John Quincy Adams as commissioners to negotiate directly with Britain in Gothenburg, Sweden. These negotiations are later transferred to Ghent, Belgium.”

March 27, 1814: “Under the command of Andrew Jackson, 2,000 troops defeat the Creek Confederation at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in the Tallapoosa River, eliminating the Confederation as an obstacle to American expansion toward the Gulf Coast. It provides the United States with two-thirds of Creek land in the Treaty of Fort Jackson.”

March 31, 1814: “Napoleon’s European empire collapses. Learning of Napoleon’s defeat, Madison calls for an immediate repeal of the trade embargo with neutral nations, signaling a major reassessment of American war aims and strategy. He signs the bill into law on April 14. The British, meanwhile, can now turn their complete attention to war with the United States.”

May 11, 1814: “William Henry Harrison resigns as Major General and is replaced by Andrew Jackson, against Madison’s orders.”

August 24, 1814: The British burn Federal buildings in Washington, DC as a response for the torching of Canadian Parliament buildings.

November 1814: Federalists lose only two seats in the U.S. House during the Mid Term election.

December 1815: William H. Crawford supporters launch a newspaper entitled the New-York Patriot.

December 15, 1814: Hartford Convention of December 1814, with New England Federalists threatening secession issues report. “Following news of Jackson’s victory at New Orleans, the U.S. public condemns the Hartford Convention as anti-American.” It ultimately dooms the Federalist Party with the mark of “Hartford Conventionism.”

December 24, 1814: The Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812 with a victory by the Democratic-Republican President against the British. (No American territory lost, Victory on Lake Champlain, and in New Orleans by General Andrew Jackson, however, Washington is burned).

January 8, 1815: Battle of New Orleans

December 28, 1815: The New-York Courier reports that to increase his odds for the nomination Monroe is promising either Simon Snyder of PA and Daniel Tompkins the Vice Presidential slot.

January 1, 1816: Democratic-Republican Presidential nomination contest is now primarily between William H. Crawford and James Monroe.

January 13, 1816: The New-York Courier publishes a letter from a Monroe supporter writes claiming that Crawford withdrew from the race; the letter is a forgery.

January 30, 1816: Crawford has majority support from the party. Monroe has the support of a minority.

February 8, 1816: Democratic-Republican Party Caucus, First Session (unofficial), party division on a candidate.

February 14, 1816: New York legislature state caucus officially nominates Governor Tompkins for President.

February 13-14, 1815: “News arrives of the December 1814 Treaty of Ghent that ends the War of 1812.”

February 15, 1815: “Congress appropriates $500,000 for the reconstruction of federal buildings.”

February 16, 1815: The Senate ratifies the Treaty of Ghent.

December 1815: “Madison presents his seventh annual message to Congress, advocating military streamlining, a new national bank, protective tariffs to promote industry, and internal improvements.”

March 10, 1816: Invitations are distributed for second Democratic-Republican Party national caucus, however, they are unsigned.

March 12, 1816: Democratic-Republican Party Caucus, Second Session suspected to have been organized by Monroe opponents. U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Morrow Ohio serves as chairman. Only Fifty-seven Congressional members present, the caucus is postponed to March 16, 1816.

March 16, 1816: Democratic Republican Caucus Third Session convenes in the U.S. House chamber with 118 members attending. U.S. Senator Samuel Smith (Maryland) serves as chairman. U.S. Representative Richard M. Johnson (Kentucky) serves as secretary. Members fight over the timing and value of the caucus. Henry Clay suggests the resolution not to nominate a candidate at the caucus, which members vote down. They nominate James Monroe for President and Daniel D. Tompkins for Vice President. There is opposition from the anti-Monroe faction.

1816: Pennsylvania Federalists try to form an anti-Monroe coalition with anti-Caucus Republicans, and nominate William Crawford and a Federalist vice Presidential nominee.

1816: Anti-Caucus Republicans chose not to oppose Monroe.

1816: Republicans become more like the Federalists as the party of nationalism and centralization – advocating a national bank, a protective tariff, internal improvements — blurring the party’s identity. John Randolph: Congress’s record under Madison’s leadership is nothing but “old Federalism, vamped up into something bearing the superficial appearance of Republicanism.”

Republicans succeed in New England by attacking the state churches in a push for religious liberty.

1816: Country tiring of Virginia presidents — John Adams complains that his son John Quincy may have to wait in Europe for his turn to lead “‘till all Virginians shall be extinct.’”

October 2, 1816: The Albany Advertiser publishes an editorial about Monroe and the Caucus.

November 5, 1816: Pennsylvania Federalists call a conference to name a candidate to head their fusion ticket, but leading Federalists in the state decline to attend.

December 3, 1816: Boston Daily Advertiser: “We do not know, nor is it very material, for whom the Federal electors will vote.”

December 4, 1816: Federalists want Rufus King for a nominee, they consider him the presumptive nominee. King is wrongfully accused by Secretary of the Treasury of owing money to the government, the money had been given to King when he was Minister to England in 1796-1803 to get Lafayette released from a French prison. The government had marked that money as a loan. Party newspapers write and publish editorials, including King’s own letter to Monroe, which clears him.

December 4, 1816: Presidential Electors meet and cast the electoral votes in their state capitals.

February 12, 1817: Joint session of Congress meets counts the Electoral vote. Democratic-Republican James Monroe is elected President, and Daniel Tompkins is elected Vice President.

Election 2016

About the Editor

Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS is a journalist, librarian, editor, & historian. She has a BA in History & Art History, and a Masters in Library and Information Studies both from McGill University, and has done graduate work in Jewish history at Concordia University as part of the MA in Judaic Studies. She wrote regularly about politics, news, education, and Judaism for Examiner.com until the publication closed in July 2016. She is the editor of History Musings... History, News & Politics, which covers the Presidency, Congress, and history news. She has previously covered the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Presidential campaigns & 2010 and 2014 midterm elections. She was also the former Editor/Features Editor for the History News Network (HNN), and had been working for HNN from 2004-2010.... READ MORE

Top Posts & Pages

RECENT POSTS: History Musings

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… January 4, 1896, Utah is admitted as the 45th State of the Union Bonnie K. Goodman Jan 4 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS (Originally published on the History News Network on Tuesday, January 1, 2008) On this day in history January […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… January 1, 1863, Lincoln signs Emancipation Proclamation freeing all the slaves in rebel territories Bonnie K. Goodman Jan 1 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, […]

HISTORY ARTICLES HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS Tribute to History News Network’s founding Editor Rick Shenkman Bonnie K. Goodman Dec 30 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS This December, History News Network’s (HNN) founder and Editor-in-chief Richard Shenkman announced he was retiring and that HNN was moving from its home server at George Mason University to George Washington University. […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… December 19, 1998, Bill Clinton becomes only the second president in American history to be impeached Bonnie K. Goodman Dec 28 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Source: Washington Examiner On this day in history December 19, 1998, the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford Sworn in as president after Richard Nixon resigns By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford is sworn in as president after Richard Nixon […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 8, 1968, Republican Party nominates Richard Nixon for President By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 8, 1968, The Republican Party nominates Richard M. Nixon for President at their convention in Miami Beach, Florida, and […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon announces he will resign from the presidency over impending Watergate impeachment By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 8, 1974, the 37th President Richard Nixon in a televised address […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 7, 1912, Teddy Roosevelt nominated for a third term as president by the Bull Moose Party By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 7, 1912, the Progressive Party nominates former President Theodore Roosevelt for president, the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act into law By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, the law would prevent the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan fires striking air traffic controllers By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firingthe 11,359 air-traffic controllers who ignored his order to return to […]

Recent Posts: History Musings

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… January 4, 1896, Utah is admitted as the 45th State of the Union Bonnie K. Goodman Jan 4 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS (Originally published on the History News Network on Tuesday, January 1, 2008) On this day in history January […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… January 1, 1863, Lincoln signs Emancipation Proclamation freeing all the slaves in rebel territories Bonnie K. Goodman Jan 1 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, […]

HISTORY ARTICLES HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS Tribute to History News Network’s founding Editor Rick Shenkman Bonnie K. Goodman Dec 30 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS This December, History News Network’s (HNN) founder and Editor-in-chief Richard Shenkman announced he was retiring and that HNN was moving from its home server at George Mason University to George Washington University. […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… December 19, 1998, Bill Clinton becomes only the second president in American history to be impeached Bonnie K. Goodman Dec 28 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Source: Washington Examiner On this day in history December 19, 1998, the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford Sworn in as president after Richard Nixon resigns By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford is sworn in as president after Richard Nixon […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 8, 1968, Republican Party nominates Richard Nixon for President By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 8, 1968, The Republican Party nominates Richard M. Nixon for President at their convention in Miami Beach, Florida, and […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon announces he will resign from the presidency over impending Watergate impeachment By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 8, 1974, the 37th President Richard Nixon in a televised address […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 7, 1912, Teddy Roosevelt nominated for a third term as president by the Bull Moose Party By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 7, 1912, the Progressive Party nominates former President Theodore Roosevelt for president, the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act into law By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, the law would prevent the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan fires striking air traffic controllers By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firingthe 11,359 air-traffic controllers who ignored his order to return to […]